DefenseNews

Boeing names aerospace veteran Kelly Ortberg as new CEO

August 1, 2024
Boeing named a longtime aerospace industry veteran on Wednesday as its next chief executive, who will take over a company that has been rocked by legal, regulatory and production problems. Robert “Kelly” Ortberg, a former CEO at Boeing supplier Rockwell Collins, will succeed David Calhoun as CEO and president effective Aug. 8, the company said. Calhoun announced in March that he would retire…
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DefenseNews

Boeing’s KC-46 has a new top-tier deficiency

August 1, 2024
DAYTON, Ohio — The Air Force and Boeing identified a new KC-46 deficiency this spring that’s causing damage to the tanker’s air system ducts — adding to the aircraft’s running list of unresolved, high-risk design flaws. The latest deficiency, designated a Category…
DefenseNews

Drone killing Marines: Corps seeks ‘buckshot-like’ counter-drone gear

July 26, 2024
The Marines are looking for weapons-mounted gear and ammo that can detect and blast drones out of the sky with “buckshot-like” capability. Marine Corps Systems Command posted a request for information from industry on July 15 seeking white papers on how developers would provide sensing, detection, defensive and offensive ways to counter drone threats at the Marine squad and platoon-level. A…
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DefenseNews

UK signs $227 million contract with Thales for new Martlet missiles

July 25, 2024
LONDON — The British Ministry of Defence has signed a contract with Thales U.K. to procure “Martlet” missiles for replenishing the country’s stocks after donating hundreds of them to Ukraine. UK Defense Equipment & Support, the defense ministry’s procurement arm, announced the new order, valued at $227 million, on the sidelines of the Farnborough International Airshow here. “The…
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DefenseNews

The US Navy risks outsourcing control of its drones

July 25, 2024
Thanks to programs like Replicator, and incubators like the Defense Innovation Unit and the Disruptive Capabilities Office, the Navy is on the precipice of widespread adoption of uncrewed systems. These systems bring with them the prospect of new technologies, new…
DefenseNews

Boeing says it will shun fixed-price contracts for drone wingmen

July 24, 2024
FARNBOROUGH AIR SHOW — A top Boeing executive said Monday the company plans to keep bidding to make drone wingmen for the Air Force — but not if it means agreeing to a fixed-price contract. “If it’s a fixed-price development program that requires a ton of maturity … that is a recipe for failure,” Ted Colbert, president and chief executive at Boeing Defense, Space and Security, told…
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